Melchior's Baptism Ceremony

After the Platan Trading Company's book sales concluded, we immediately moved on to the banquet celebrating spring. Since it was Melchior's Baptism Ceremony, I had Lieselotta and Brunhilde go to the Temple to fetch the ceremonial robes and other necessary items.

"Lady Rozemyne, Fran and Monica had already prepared everything for you."

Lieselotta smiled brightly as she confirmed that all of the High Priest's ceremonial robes and required accessories had been laid out. By the time we arrived at the Temple, Fran and the Chief Priest's Attendants had apparently divided the luggage into smaller bundles and carried them to the front entrance so they could be transported on riding beasts.

"This is a gift for Lady Rozemyne from the children of the orphanage. It's Paru juice, apparently."

"It's a winter delicacy. Please take it to Ella."

"Very well."

Brunhilde carried the small jar of Paru juice off to the kitchen.

"Fran was worried about whether you had been feeling unwell, Lady Rozemyne, and whether you were exercising to build up your strength if you were doing well, so I told him you had been doing light exercise at the knights' training grounds."

Damuel said this. I asked about Monica and the others as well, not just Fran. It seemed that everyone at the Temple was doing well, which put my mind at ease.

Ottilie returned then, holding an invitation in her hand.

"Lady Rozemyne, Lady Charlotte and Lord Wilfried are inviting you to a tea party. It's rather sudden, but they say they would like to introduce Melchior to you."

Apparently, Melchior's room had already been prepared in anticipation of the Baptism Ceremony, and his Attendants had been going in and out with him to transport additional belongings. Since it was on a different floor, I hadn't known about it.

It seemed that rather than waiting until the Baptism Ceremony for their first conversation, Wilfried and Charlotte wanted to introduce Melchior to me beforehand. Charlotte's invitation included the note, "I was so happy to be able to talk with my sister before the Baptism Ceremony too, and I hope you will feel the same."

...I really need to work harder at being a good older sister.

My first tea party with Charlotte had been derailed by Wilfried barging in and turning it into an interrogation, so it wasn't a particularly fond memory for me. However, that tea party had shown me just how adorable Charlotte was as a younger sister. I had never spoken with Melchior before, so I wanted to talk with him before the Baptism Ceremony.

After sending my acceptance, I spent my days copying documents alongside my attendants while waiting for the occasion.

"Good day, Sister."

"Thank you for inviting me, Charlotte."

After exchanging greetings with Charlotte, the host, I turned my gaze to Melchior, who was waiting beside Wilfried to be introduced. He had blue-purple hair inherited from his father and eyes that were blue like his mother's. His features, too, resembled his mother's, giving him a gentle, mild-mannered appearance. And most importantly—his height was only a little shorter than mine.

...Only a little, but I'm definitely bigger. Even if we might look like we were born the same year, I definitely look like the older sister. Hyaa-hu! Ah, it's not like I'm standing on my toes or anything.

Having cleared the height issue I'd been most worried about when meeting Melchior and confirmed that I looked like a proper older sister, my excitement shot through the roof.

"This is our younger brother, Melchior. I'm counting on you to look after him. ...Melchior, this is your older sister, Rozemyne—the High Priest who will be bestowing the blessing at your Baptism Ceremony."

"Lady Rozemyne, I have not yet completed my Baptism Ceremony, so I cannot truly pray for a blessing, but allow me to greet you."

Introduced by Wilfried, Melchior stepped forward with a slightly nervous expression, knelt on one knee, and bowed his head.

"I humbly ask that you grant me permission to pray for a blessing upon this rare encounter, one that has withstood the harsh judgment of the Life God Edipvine."

"I grant it."

"I pray for a blessing from the Life God Edipvine upon you, Lady Rozemyne. ...I am Melchior, son of the Aub Ehrenfest. I look forward to your continued guidance."

He looked up with an expression of satisfaction that seemed to say he'd done it just as he'd been taught, glancing alternately between Wilfried and Charlotte as if seeking their approval. Both of them looked at Melchior with gentle smiles.

"I think you did very well, Melchior."

"Indeed. I was quite nervous during my own first greeting as well. You did splendidly."

Praised by his older brother and sister, Melchior showed the innocent, carefree delight of a youngest child—it was utterly adorable. It was clear that he had grown up happily under the care of his adoptive mother. Just watching him brought a smile to my own face.

"Ever since my older sister moved to the Northern Building, the children's room has been so lonely without anyone to play with. I had been wanting to move to the Northern Building too. I'm so happy that we can finally have tea together."

"I am also delighted to be able to spend time with Melchior again after so long."

Charlotte said this and patted Melchior on the head. His hair swayed softly.

"Hmm? Melchior and Rozemyne have similar hair colors—they really do look like siblings."

Wilfried touched Melchior's hair lightly, comparing it to mine as he spoke. It was true—the blue-purple hair I'd inherited from my adoptive father was much more similar to my own than Wilfried's and Charlotte's pale blond.

...I wonder if Kamil has grown up like this too. He should be almost five by now, right? Since he's been raised with love from Dad, Mom, and Turi, he's probably grown up to be something like this.

When was the last time I'd seen Kamil from the Temple? As I searched my memories, the color of Kamil's hair—so similar to my own—seemed to overlap with Melchior's blue-purple, inherited from our adoptive father.

...I wish Kamil could call me big sister.

"Shall we have some tea? Sister brought along some sweets that Melchior has never tried before."

Charlotte urged us to our seats, and the tea party began. We each presented the sweets we'd brought, took turns sampling one bite of each, and drank tea. The sweet I'd introduced for the first time today was Paru bavarois. When the Otmar Trading Company had delivered the quatre-quarts for the Interduchy Tournament, they had given me freshly made gelatin as a gift.

I'd asked Ella to make the bavarois, but this was the first time I'd be serving it to others. I noticed Brunhilde quietly watching the reactions of the three of us.

"It slides down your throat so smoothly, and it's sweet and delicious. I like it. I imagine you can make various flavors of this too?"

"Yes, I imagine various flavors are possible. This one uses a winter delicacy called Paru."

I put some bavarois in my own mouth. The taste of Paru was a nostalgic flavor from the lower city. I could feel my face relax as the sweetness spread gently through my mouth.

"...It is sweet, but Lady Rozemyne's new treat has such a fascinating texture."

"I prefer cookies."

Charlotte enjoyed it, but it seemed the boy found it a bit unfamiliar. I would need to improve it based on their feedback here before I could serve it at the Royal Academy.

...Pudding hadn't been well-received at first either. So bavarois is a miss too, then.

"Your Baptism Ceremony is tomorrow, isn't it, Melchior? Are you nervous?"

The conversation naturally turned to Melchior's fast-approaching Baptism Ceremony. In response to Wilfried's question, Melchior answered quietly, "I was told I have to walk in alone."

"I was also extremely nervous from all the nobles watching when I entered for my Baptism Ceremony. But seeing Sister waiting for me up at the dais helped me calm down a little. Melchior, you'll be fine if you just walk straight toward Sister."

Charlotte's words seemed to ease Melchior's tension.

"But Charlotte, yours was a winter Baptism Ceremony, so you did the debut together with a number of other children—that made it much easier. Both Melchior and I had to walk the whole way alone."

Winter Baptism Ceremonies for nobles were held together as a group debut, but Baptism Ceremonies from spring through autumn were conducted by inviting a Priest to the family home. For a spring Baptism Ceremony, one apparently had to walk through that great hall all by oneself. I remembered how Father and Mother had walked with me at my own Baptism Ceremony. There had been many guests then too, but it was far more manageable than a Baptism Ceremony at the castle with virtually all the nobles in attendance.

I went over the procedures for the Baptism Ceremony with the nervous Melchior, while Wilfried and Charlotte debated "You should do this here" and "No, it's better like that," and I watched them with a smile.

"I wonder what kinds of things Melchior likes?"

"The toys that Lady Rozemyne made. Lady Rozemyne made them, didn't you? I heard about it from my brother and sister. They said Lady Rozemyne is truly amazing."

Thanks to Mother and Charlotte, who had brought the books I'd made to read aloud to him, and Wilfried, who had taught him card games, Melchior had come to regard me as a truly amazing older sister.

...I'm off to a great start as an older sister! Wilfried, Charlotte, thank you!

Overcome with emotion, I clenched my fist under the table and resolved that I absolutely had to live up to being a good older sister for Melchior. And then, just moments later, Melchior smiled adorably and proceeded to try to kill me with kindness.

"The books that Lady Rozemyne made are so much fun—I'd love it if you made more. I love books."

...Oooh! I'm being loved to death! He told me he loves books with a smile! A book-loving little brother—what a wonderful existence! I want to thank the gods right now for giving me such an adorable brother!

When I began trembling, trying to suppress the Magic Power threatening to overflow from my excitement, Richarta came over with a worried look. Since today was a tea party between siblings, I didn't have the necklace used for storing the Magic Power I'd received from the Chief Priest.

"Lady Rozemyne, please calm down."

"I'm fine, Richarta. I've only just..."

Having made book-loving friends at the Royal Academy and attended several tea parties, I had built up at least a little resistance. Until I'd recommended more books to Melchior and made him into an even more book-loving and adorable little brother, I absolutely could not give up.

"What kinds of stories do you like, Melchior? Knight stories, perhaps? There are plenty of stories from other duchies now."

They hadn't yet been made into books, but as stories alone, there were plenty. If Melchior wanted new books or stories, I intended to give it my all.

Come on, tell me! As I urged Melchior for his answer, he tilted his head slightly and smiled.

"I like stories about the gods. I can play karuta too, so the Attendants often read them to me. My brother also told me that if I want to be like Lady Rozemyne, I need to learn a great deal about the gods."

...He likes Holy Book picture books?

In Ehrenfest, Holy Book picture books were treated as reference material—read primarily to memorize the names of gods and divine instruments in order to win at karuta. Very few people had ever said they genuinely loved stories about the gods.

"I see. If Melchior says he loves stories about the gods, then I'll give it my all to meet that request. Richarta, please bring the High Priest's Holy Book from the Temple right away—"

"Lady Rozemyne."

Before I could finish, Richarta lightly tapped my shoulder.

"I understand perfectly well that Melchior is unbearably adorable, so please do calm yourself. As Lord Ferdinand said, the High Priest's Holy Book is not something you should show to just anyone, is it?"

The Holy Book, with its strange magic circles and inscriptions, was not something to be shown carelessly to others.

"Would a copy be acceptable?"

"It might still be too difficult for Melchior to understand. Simply having you tell the stories without the pictures will be more than sufficient."

...I really wanted to show him the book, since I had the chance.

Richarta's reasoning was sound, so I told Melchior the stories from the Holy Book that hadn't been made into picture books. Melchior listened with rapt attention, his blue eyes—so much like his adoptive mother's—gleaming with delight.

After thoroughly enjoying my time getting to know my new little brother, I saw Melchior and his Attendants off as they returned to the main building.

"Melchior truly is adorable. I want to dote on him with everything I have."

When I declared this to Charlotte, who had arranged the tea party, she pouted slightly with a look of mild dissatisfaction.

"It almost feels as though Melchior has stolen you away as a sister."

"What are you saying, Charlotte? Rozemyne is lenient with her younger siblings. And even more so with girls. The way she treats you is far gentler than the way she treats me."

Wilfried looked at me with a sullen expression, saying that I had never once shown him such affectionate treatment.

"In conclusion, Rozemyne, you should be much gentler in how you treat me. You are my fiancée, are you not?"

"Oh, but Ferdinand has been telling me for ages that I'm far too gentle with you, Wilfried."

"Huh?"

Wilfried tilted his head with a puzzled expression, as if to say, "Have you ever actually been gentle with me?"

"Before the debut ceremony and during the White Tower incident, Ferdinand both told me that my treatment of you was far too lenient. Were you hoping for something stricter?"

Wilfried's eyes widened in surprise.

"The gentleness of a soothing Flow like Flutreine is different from the gentleness you show your younger siblings as the next lord. As my fiancée, you need to grow much more. I don't think the same kind of gentleness you show your younger siblings is necessary."

What Wilfried needed as the next lord was not leniency. At my words, he faltered, at a loss for response.

On the day of the Baptism Ceremony, I bathed from the morning to purify myself, arranged my hair, and donned the High Priest's white ceremonial robes. A gold stole was secured with a silver sash, and I was adorned with green accessories—the noble color of spring. The hair ornament Turi had made swayed with the fresh green of young leaves, just as I'd requested. It looked wonderfully fitting for the season.

Surrounded by my usual guard knights, I boarded a lesser beast and headed for the waiting room. Temple personnel entered at a slightly different time from the nobles, so I couldn't move together with Wilfried or Charlotte. After the nobles had finished their entrance, I would enter alongside the Chief Priest.

"You may use body-strengthening. Make sure you walk properly."

The Chief Priest, dressed in blue ceremonial robes, said this to me. I nodded slightly and spread Magic Power throughout my body. I had to account for the difference in our stride length—my three steps equaled his one—but with that taken care of, I should be able to walk normally and elegantly.

I walked through the center of the great hall, filled with assembled nobles. The stares still made my spine stiffen with tension, but I was beginning to accept that this was simply how it was. I felt I had grown a little, too.

At the center of the stage, an altar had been constructed, and to its left stood the Lord and his wife, along with their guard knights and Attendants. When we took the stage, my adoptive father rose and walked to the center.

"By the pure flow of the Water Goddess Flutreine, the Life God Edipvine was washed away, and the Earth Goddess Geduldh was saved. Blessings upon the thaw!"

At the banquet celebrating spring, there was an announcement of top-performing students, and we received commemorative gifts from my adoptive father.

"First, I shall announce this year's top students. An impressive thirteen students achieved outstanding results."

Murmurs of disbelief mingled with admiration, and applause broke out.

It seemed I was the only one to receive the highest honors, but from among my retainers, Leonore, Brother Cornelius, and Hartmut had been named, along with three from Wilfried's retainers, two from Charlotte's retainers, and Matthias and one other from the former Veronica faction.

"Well done, Rozemyne. This is a commemorative gift. I hope it will be of use to you in the days ahead."

I received the commemorative gift from my adoptive father as he smiled. The magic stone in this year's gift was smaller than last year's. Perhaps the budget had been insufficient. Holding the stone in my hand, I smiled faintly.

After the announcement of top students, the Royal Academy's results for Ehrenfest were presented. It was reported that we had placed tenth in the Interduchy Tournament's Ditter. Considering we'd been sixth in the mock battles, this might have seemed like a lackluster result. However, the successful elimination of the Hunderttaylen—a notoriously troublesome minor magical beast—was explained, and the significantly improved coordination was praised.

"In light of the various incidents at the Royal Academy this year, Bonifatius will continue to oversee the education of apprentice knights and new knights. Everyone, put in your best effort."

The achievements of the apprentice attendants and the growth of the apprentice Attendants were also discussed. With the start of commercial exchanges with the central government and Klassenberg, Ehrenfest's influence had steadily risen, and it was noted that we had attracted considerable attention during the Interduchy Tournament.

"This year, we have also received an increase in marriage proposals from other duchies. These will be carefully considered before any conclusions are drawn."

Finally, having introduced books at the Royal Academy this year and felt positive results, a notice was sent to the nobles that they should not slacken in their preparations so that book sales could begin next year.

I could feel the mood shift among the various Giebes and their surrounding nobles connected to printing and papermaking. How much preparation could be done before the sales began was the critical factor.

Lastly, the formal debut of the newly come-of-age graduates of the Royal Academy was held, along with the announcement of their assignments as full-fledged workers rather than apprentices. Brother Cornelius, Hartmut, and the other graduates took the stage. It was announced that Brother Cornelius would serve as my guard knight and Hartmut as my Attendant.

"Now, we shall proceed with the Baptism Ceremony of my son, Melchior. High Priest, if you would."

As my adoptive father stepped aside, I climbed onto the footstool prepared at the center of the stage, careful not to step on my hem. The Chief Priest stood beside me and spoke.

"Welcome the newest child of Ehrenfest."

At the Chief Priest's words echoing through the great hall, the musicians began to play in unison, and the doors slowly swung open. Melchior wore robes in a slightly bluish green that wouldn't clash with his hair color, a childlike smile on his face as he waited for the doors to open.

He didn't seem overly nervous, but perhaps he had taken Charlotte's advice that watching his sister would help him feel better, because he walked straight toward me with those blue eyes fixed on mine and climbed onto the stage.

"Melchior."

I called his name and held out the Magical Tool for checking magic strength, wrapped in thin leather that would not allow Magic Power to pass through.

"Just grip it and you'll be fine."

"Yes."

Melchior took the rod of the Magical Tool, and it lit up. Applause erupted, and I took out a medal, pressed it against the Magical Tool like a seal, and registered his Magic Power.

"Melchior has received the divine protection of five gods: Darkness, Water, Fire, Wind, and Earth. By striving to live in a manner befitting the blessings of the gods, he shall receive even greater blessings."

Once the registration of Magic Power onto the medal was complete, it was immediately placed in a box managed by the Chief Priest.

At the same moment, my adoptive father approached the center of the stage wearing the Magical Tool ring and presented Melchior with a ring bearing a green magic stone for emitting Magic Power.

"As my son, acknowledged by the gods and by all, I bestow this ring upon you, Melchior. Congratulations, Melchior."

"Thank you, Father."

My adoptive father, watching Melchior beam with happiness, looked up and sent his gaze toward me. I nodded slightly and began channeling Magic Power into my own ring.

"I bestow upon Melchior the blessing of the Water Goddess Flutreine."

...Ah, was that a bit too much?

A bit more green light than intended flew toward my adorable book-loving little brother. But surely this was still within acceptable limits. I stole a glance at the Chief Priest, who shot me a cold look that clearly said, "You fool."

...It seems I slightly exceeded the limit.

What's done is done, I thought, accepting my fate with equanimity. Melchior, having received the blessing, began channeling Magic Power into his own ring.

"Thank you very much."

A soft puff of green light floated gently toward me. At this return blessing, the nobles broke into applause, and Melchior's Baptism Ceremony came to an end.

And so, the residents of the Northern Building increased by one, and my life at the castle became ever more lively and enjoyable.

...To celebrate gaining a book-loving little brother, let me offer my prayers and gratitude to the gods!